Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Australian woman lost her life going back to help during London terrorist attack

A 28-year-old Australian woman was among the seven who were killed during the Islamic terrorist attack at London Bridge on Saturday when she went back to help those who had been hurt during the initial phase of the violence, according to The Guardian.

Kirsty Boden hailed from Loxton in South Australia and had moved to London in 2013 where she had been working as a health professional. Boden is one of four Australians who were caught up in the attack by three men of Middle Eastern origin who reportedly screamed “this is for Allah” during their attack, which included ramming a van into a crowd and stabbing and slashing people with “long knives,” multiple reports revealed.

According to a statement released by the family, The Guardian reported, Boden lost her life when she ran toward the ongoing danger to assist those who had been hurt during the attack. It was not clear whether she died from knife wounds or from injures sustained from the van assault.

“As she ran toward danger, in an effort to help people on the bridge, Kirsty sadly lost her life. We are so proud of Kirsty’s brave actions which demonstrate how selfless, caring and heroic she was, not only on that night, but throughout all of her life. Kirsty — we love you and we will miss you dearly,” the family’s statement said.

Boden was a nursing graduate from Flinders University and had worked at the St. Thomas Hospital in London, according to the Advertiser.

“As the Chief Nurse of Guy’s and St Thomas’, I cannot put into words how sad I am that we have lost one of our own,” said Dame Eileen Sills, chief nurse at St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

“Kirsty was an outstanding nurse and a hugely valued member of the staff team in Theatres Recovery, described by her colleagues as ‘one in a million’ who always went the extra mile for the patients in her care,” she added.

The Age reported that Boden, a former swim champion, was also an avid traveler. A travel blog that she reportedly kept showed her having recently been to Milan, Sofia and Lisbon.

“I recognise that I might not go everywhere but I should definitely go everywhere I can, and so should you!” Boden reportedly wrote on her blog. “At risk of sounding cliche, life is short and we should all use the time we have wisely.”

Of the four Australians who were caught up in the attack, Boden is the only one confirmed to have lost her life. The status of Sara Zelenak, a 21-year-old nanny from Brisbane, is currently unknown, according to News.com.au.

Waitress Candice Hedge, 31, also suffered a knife wound to the neck. The Independent reported that she wrote in a Facebook post after the attack that she was “doing okay,” and that she was in a “bit of pain, but I will survive.”